Crowded field already for Elgin spring council race

In spring 2009, 10 people ran for three Elgin City Council seats.

If the number of people who have picked up nominating petitions so far is any indication, spring 2011 could result in a similar sized field - or larger.

Six people have picked up petitions from Elgin city hall so far, and that doesn't include incumbents John Steffen and Mike Warren, both of whom have said will seek re-election.

Three, 4-year terms are available on April 2.

At least one council seat will see a new face as David Kaptain is giving up his seat to run against Mayor Ed Schock.

So far, potential candidates include Manfred Czymmek, David Koldos, Tom McCarthy, Kathrine Moser, Andrew Scheeler and Toby Shaw.

They all have varying degrees of dissatisfaction with city leadership and want their voices heard.

Czymmek, a 48-year-old with a manufacturing background, says he opposes raising taxes to meet budget shortfalls and wants the city to take a more active role in enforcing immigration laws for hiring workers. He also wants the city to crack down on overcrowding.

"There's a lot of talk and little action. It bothers me," said Czymmek, a 15-year resident. "I can bring that out-of-the-box thinking. I believe in common-sense solutions to problems."

McCarthy, a 51-year-old who has lived in the city for 15 years, says the city needs to market itself more to get more development. He also says through his limousine business - where he is known as "Driver Tom," he is in touch with the people.

"I'm in every neighborhood, every day," he said. "I'm not going to feed the citizens a bunch of junk. They're smarter than that."

Moser, a 51-year-old Elgin Community College student, says she wants to focus more on business development, increase public transportation offerings, and work to clean up the city, which she says "looks like a dump."

"There's a lot of dissatisfaction in the city with Mayor Schock. A lot of people don't think he is been doing a good job. I really think the city is falling apart," she said.

Scheeler, a 42-year-old stay-at-home dad and five-year resident, doesn't believe the city is living up to promises it has made to different neighborhoods. For example, he said city leaders rolled out a plan five years ago to install new streetlights on the northeast side, but have done nothing.

Scheeler also believes the city needs to do more to entice businesses to come to town beyond fixing up the streetscape with brick pavers and fancy streetlights.

"Beautification doesn't bring businesses. You have to actually find businesses that want to be there," he said.

Shaw, a 32-year-old information technologoy technician, said he is running because he wants to be involved. Shaw said he is still researching and formulating his platform, but would oppose the city annexing new land if the residents there opposed it.

"I am interested in what's going on and being at the table," said Shaw, who has lived in Elgin since 1996.

Koldos, 51, was the first to throw his hat in the ring, but his candidacy could face difficulties if he comes out on the losing end in court.

He faces felony charges of harassment through electronic communications, violating an order of protection and misdemeanor charges of violating an order of protection and harassment by telephone. Koldos is accused of using phone messages left in January to harass a woman he knew, court documents state.

Koldos is trying to act as his own attorney and is due in court again on Oct. 25.

David White, co-founder of the Association for Legal Americans, has said his group is meeting to see if it can put together a four-person slate, but the group has not picked up petitions thus far.

Petitions must have signatures from at least 57 registered voters and the filing window is Nov. 15 through 22.

If 13 or more people run, it will trigger a primary on Feb. 22 that will narrow the field to 12 candidates.